** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.

Program Description

Overview

Travel Dates: July 6-16, 2018

This “10-day, field-school, single-country” program focuses on Germany's Mittelstand companies in the Heilbronn-Franken region (close to Stuttgart, in southern Germany). The region is home to a large number of Mittelstand companies. These small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of Germany’s export-oriented economy and are often global leaders in their niche markets.

Drawing from the fields of Entrepreneurship, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Law, students will learn how Germany's Mittelstand companies operate, how they are managed, and how they compete effectively in the global arena. The program will emphasize a holistic approach to business development and growth; it will focus on both macro as well as micro aspects of conducting international business.

Students will obtain a first-hand “front-line” appreciation of the socio-economic, political, and cultural contexts in which German Mittelstand companies operate. Students will also gain a keen understanding of the competitive and organizational dynamics surrounding these companies via company visits and presentations by business and community leaders. It is expected that these experiences will better prepare our students to make significant contributions to companies they (will) work for.

Location

This program will be delivered at the German Graduate School (GGS) which is based in Heilbronn (Germany). The city is one of the key geographies in Southern Germany, and is home to a large and thriving automotive industry (including automotive engineering companies and OEM suppliers). Moreover, the city is home to number of vineyards and other family-run businesses. This makeup lends itself extremely well to study Germany's small and medium-sized enterprises (the German "Mittelstand" companies) that are the engines of economic growth in Germany--and therefore also in Europe.

Host Institution

The German Graduate School of Management and Law is a state-recognised private university. It has regional roots and orients itself in all it does on international top standards. They educate and further train business leaders in the subjects management and law. These managers then go on to create sustainable values for companies and for society. As a research-intensive university they generate new knowledge on these subjects and work with the latest findings.

Mandatory Class Sessions:
3 class sessions close to travel dates (1 pre-travel and 2 post-travel) each lasting 3 hours--dates and times to be announced

Credit Type: direct USFSP credits.

In order to receive full credit for the program course, students must attend any class meetings listed, complete an online pre- departure orientation in CANVAS, and participate in all group activities on the program itinerary. A link to access the orientation will be sent to students' USF email addresses prior to departure.

Not Included:
•Airfare (Estimate: $1500)
•Airport transfers (Estimate: $75)
•Personal expenses
•Some meals not included above
•Passport/Visa expenses--non-US passport holders are responsible for checking the entry requirements for their country of citizenship and procuring/purchasing any required visas.

How and When to Pay

Payment Schedule:

Education Abroad will post total program charge to student's OASIS account once student commits to program.

Payment

Amount Due

Due Date

Confirmation

$500.00

5 days from committing to program or application deadline, whichever is first.

Payment #1

$862.50

April 7, 2018

Payment #2

$1,725.00

May 7, 2018

Final Payment

$862.50

May 19, 2018

Total

$3,950.00

Payment instructions (only after you have been accepted to the program and log back in to your application to commit to the program):

Once you have been accepted to your program of choice, you will be asked to confirm your participation in the program by hitting the Commit button on your personal application page. Having confirmed your participation, the USFSP Education Abroad Office will place charges on your OASIS account. Students will be asked to make a confirmation payment toward the Study Abroad Program Cost (SAPC). Generally, this payment is $500, although certain programs may have alternate payment requirements as indicated on the specific program website.

Once you have committed to the program, you are financially liable for the Study Abroad Program Cost. Please carefully read your program-specific payment requirements as well as the Financial Terms and Conditions for your relevant program.

To make the payment:

ON-LINE (Please note: Do not use the on-line payment option if you have other outstanding charges on your account, as any payment will automatically be credited toward your on-campus charges)
Step 1: Go to USF Single-SignOn
Step 2: Log in using your USF Net ID.
Step 3: Click on OASIS on the top menu.
Step 4: On the Main Menu, go to "Student"
Step 5: On the Student Menu, go to "Tuition & Fees"
Step 6: Click on "Student Bill Payment" PLEASE NOTE: The USF Cashier's Office charges a 2.5% "convenience fee" for using a credit or bank card. If you use an online check you will not be charged the additional fee. They no longer accept VISA.

IN PERSON
Step 1: Email the USFSP Education Abroad Office at studyabroad@usfsp.edu for a payment form. The form must be completed and signed by an authorized member of the Education Abroad Office.
Step 2: Take payment form to the USFSP Cashier's Office (BAY 132). You may pay only pay with check, cash or money order in person. Checks are payable to USF.
Step 3: Please keep a record of your payment for your records.

Post-Commitment Cancellation Policy:

You are liable for $100 plus non-recoverable program costs if you cancel at least 91 days prior to departure.*
You are liable for $300 plus non-recoverable program costs if you cancel 61 to 90 days prior to departure.*
You are liable for up to 100% of the program fee if you cancel 60 days or less prior to departure.*

Students must email studyabroad@usfsp.edu to notify USFSP Education Abroad of their cancellation.

*Education Abroad will assess on a case-by-case basis the non-recoverable costs of the program for which the student is liable. Non-recoverable costs may exceed to-date funds collected by USFSP Education Abroad at time of student's withdraw from the program.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Funding

Many funding opportunities are available to USF students who are planning to study abroad. Please see our funding page for further details.

Note: The Education Abroad Scholarship application deadline for summer semester is February 16. However, applicants must be accepted and committed to the program as well as have paid the $500 Confirmation Payment in order to be considered for scholarships. This takes processing time. Therefore, we strongly advise applicants submit all parts of the scholarship application by February 1.

Health and Safety

Medical Insurance

USF provides program participants with sickness/accident and emergency medical evacuation insurance valid for the dates of the program. Those who will travel independently, either in advance of the program or after the program ends, must ensure that they have insurance coverage valid outside the U.S.

USFSP provides program participants with sickness/accident and emergency medical evacuation insurance valid for the dates of the program. Those who will travel independently, either in advance of the program or after the program ends, must ensure that they have insurance coverage valid outside the U.S.

All participants must be in possession of a valid U.S. Passport or a valid passport from their country of residence. Passports must have an expiration date at least 6 months after the student's scheduled return to the U.S. U.S. citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Europe. Non-U.S. citizens should check with their own country's consulate regarding visa requirements for the countries to be visited. International students within the USF System must also submit the Study or Research Abroad Approval eform, listed under "Other Services", in their istart account.

Other Considerations

Travel Documents

For detailed information on travel documents you may need for your trip please visit our Passport and Visa page.

Getting there

This program begins and ends in Heilbronn (Germany). You are responsible for all your transportation to/from Heilbronn. Your program director will give you detailed instructions on how to reach Heilbronn from one of the two nearby airports (Stuttgart International; Frankfurt International). If necessary, please consider buying travel insurance to protect you from unanticipated emergencies.

Living Arrangements

Single occupancy hotel room. Hotel to be finalized and subject to change.